Those First Place Vero Beach Dodgers

Published on May 19, 2005 under Florida State League (FSL1)
Vero Beach Devil Rays News Release


The Vero Beach Dodgers concluded a fantastic road trip Wednesday night with an amazing come-from-behind, 5-4 win at Lakeland. The Dodgers took three out of four games against the Tigers, who own the best record in the Florida State League. The team returns home to Vero Beach Thursday night to kick off an 8-game homestand.

The trip began Sunday with the one of the Dodgers best pitching performances of the season. Justin Orenduff turned in 7 innings of shutout ball, striking out 10 Tigers. He walked only one and allowed just two base hits. He did not figure in the decision, however, as Lakeland sent out five pitchers that matched Orenduff until the 9th Inning. In the 9th, Edwin Bellorin singled with one out and Mike Nixon walked. Chin-lung Hu doubled home Bellorin the break the 0-0 tie and Andy LaRoche singled in Nixon to put the Dodgers up 2-0. Mark Alexander, who came in the 8th, pitched a scorelss ninth as well to earn his second win of the year.

In Game Two, the Dodgers dominated from the start. LaRoche hammered a two-run homer in the 1st inning. Xavier Paul hit his first homer run of the season in the second inning and Hu knocked his fourth of the year leading off the third inning. Justin Ruggiano went 3-3 in the game with two doubles, an RBI and two runs scored. Julio Pimentel notched the win in this one. He tossed 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and striking out seven. Dodger pitching struck out 12 Tigers in the game.

Game Three went to Lakeland. It was close throughout, but the Tigers had a pair of 2-out, RBI singles to give the Tigers a 2-0 win. Brian Pilkington through well for the Dodgers, but took the hard luck loss. He allowed just one run in six innings. Lakeland's Nathan Bumstead was just a little bit better, though. He went 7 innings and allowed just one hit. He walked four but struck out nine. The game was called after eight innings due to rain, so the Dodgers did not get a chance to hit in the ninth.

The last game of the series had the best finish. Lakeland led 3-1 for most of the game, but the ninth was wild and wacky. Cory Dunlap drew a leadoff against the league's top closer Chris Homer. Justin Ruggiano followed with a base hit to right field. Xavier Paul then crushed a ball to left-center. It fell in for triple to score both runners and tie the score at three. Luckily, the fun didn't end there. Edwin Bellorin snuck a double down the left field line and that scored Paul to give the Dodgers the lead. Two batters later, Tony Abreu singled to right field to score Bellorin and put the Dodgers up 5-3. Mark Alexander came in to pitch the ninth for the Dodgers. Scott Tousa led off the inning with an infield single near first base. Alexander came back to strike out the next hitter, but Juan Francia poked a base hit past third to put the tying runs on base with only one out. Alexander then struck out Vince Blue and got ahead on Lakeland's best hittier Brent Clevlen, 0-2. He swung at strike three, but the ball went through the catcher's legs and all the way to the backstop. That scored Tousa and put the tying run at third base and the winning run at first. But Alexander struck out the cleanup hitter Kody Kirkland to finish the game and earn his team-high 4th save of the year.

The Dodgers now return to Holman Stadium for a 4-game series with the Tampa Yankees and a 4-game set with the Fort Myers Miracle (Twins).

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Florida State League Stories from May 19, 2005


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